Giambi pinch-hitting to lead off the ninth inning homered to give the Indians a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Monday night at Progressive Field.

It was Giambi's ninth career walkoff homer and 10th pinch-hit blast. According to Elias Sports Bureau Giambi became the oldest player in major-league history to hit a walk-off home run. He was 42 years 202 days old on Monday. He eclipsed Hank Aaron (42 years 157 days in 1976).

Giambi received a cold-water shower during a postgame interview one of several displays of gratitude by his teammates.

"I might catch pneumonia'' he said with a chuckle. "I'm too old to get a bucket of cold water dumped on me.''

Giambi is not too old to flex. He crushed a 1-1 pitch from right-hander Ramon Troncoso over the center-field wall and into the lower foliage. It left a vapor trail.

"It jumped out of there like a golf ball'' said his buddy Nick Swisher. "Gorgeous. That just shows what he's capable of doing. When you're getting up near the Thome Terrace you're doing something.''

Giambi is 24-for-124 in 45 games but he has seven homers and 24 RBI.

"Big G means so much to the ballclub on and off the field'' Swisher said. "That's why when he does what he just did the party's off the charts.''

Giambi who pinch-hit for Mark Reynolds carried the Indians (57-48) to their fifth straight victory. Chicago (40-63) has dropped seven of eight.